THORBURN: Expectations high for Tad Boyle's young CU Buffs

Tad Boyle didn't laugh or scoff when I compared the Buffs' new big man on campus to The Big Fundamental.

"That's a pretty good observation," a tired Boyle said after putting his young team through a taxing two-a-day workout this week.

CU super recruit Josh Scott has a calm, selfless demeanor and is developing low-post skills reminiscent of the San Antonio Spurs' humble star.

Early indications suggest that Scott, a talented 6-10 freshman, has the type of work ethic that could lead to his name being called by David Stern someday.

I'm not saying Scott is destined for a Hall of Fame career at the next level. You can make the argument that Duncan, a four-time NBA champion, is the greatest power forward of all time.

But after getting to know CU's six-man top-25 recruiting class a little bit this summer, I don't think it's a stretch to predict that special things are on the horizon for this program.

Having Scott and high school rival Wesley Gordon (6-8) flanking rebounding machine Andre Roberson (6-7) immediately transforms the Buffs into a menacing and relentless team in the paint.

Moving 6-5 sophomore Spencer Dinwiddie to point guard and inserting kinetic off guard Askia Booker (6-1) into the starting lineup will make the backcourt difficult to match up with height- and speed-wise.

Freshmen wings Xavier Johnson (6-6) and Chris Jenkins (6-7) expect to pick up where Alec Burks, Cory Higgins and Carlon Brown left off. Boyle's track record at the position speaks for itself.

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Possibly bringing experienced players like Jeremy Adams, Sabatino Chen and Shane Harris-Tunks off the bench gives Boyle a lot of cards to play.

Too much hype and pressure too soon?

Not for the freshmen. They're here to make sure the spotlight shines even more brightly on the rising program.

"I kind of remember when it was kind of like Colorado basketball was ... you couldn't even put winning and them in the same statement most of the time," said Scott, who led Lewis-Palmer to the 4A state title at the Coors Events Center in March over Gordon's Sierra team. "It's amazing how far coach Boyle has brought this program.

"Hopefully, we can continue this winning tradition and keep improving upon it."

CU finished fifth in the Big 12 and made it to the semifinals of the NIT during Boyle's first 24-win season.

The coach is still driven by the NCAA Tournament snub that spring.

Five members of the 2012 class were signed last November, four months before the Buffs won four games in four nights in downtown Los Angeles to seize the Pac-12 Tournament and the automatic invitation to the Big Dance.

After seeing role players like Levi Knutson, Nate Tomlinson and Austin Dufault thrive under Boyle, fans can't wait to see what the coaching staff gets out of the more physically gifted new generation of Buffs.

"We're a hard-working class and we have a lot to prove," Johnson said. "We're coming in young and we're a young team, so we have a lot to show the world. We're going to try to win the Pac-12 Tournament again."

Or perhaps even win the Pac-12 regular-season title. The Buffs could be in the mix given the talent, depth, coaching and home-court advantage.

Arizona. UCLA. Colorado.

Five years ago if you told someone that these three programs had anything in common, a psychiatric evaluation would be in order.

After conference realignment and one brilliant hire in Boulder, it's suddenly not crazy.

Colorado basketball is in position to help restore the Pac-12's national credibility.

Just ask the Buffs' Big Fundamental.

"It's all about winning," Scott said. "They won and they got to the NCAA Tournament. They definitely raised the bar for us younger guys. We want to get there as well, hopefully farther."

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